Counting starts in Nigerian election
Reports of violence, voting delays as Buhari seeks a second term
DAURA, NIGERIA— Nigeria began counting votes in a presidential election on Saturday marked by an extremist attack, late-opening polling stations and a surprise loss for top challenger Atiku Abubakar in his own hometown.
The voting took place a week after a painful election delay and final results are expected on Tuesday, though plenty of work remained as many voters in Africa’s largest democracy still waited in line at sundown. Observers and security forces gave scattered reports of torched ballot boxes, soldiers firing on suspected votesnatchers and people illegally selling their votes for as little as 500 naira ($1.38). Several people were killed. President Muhammadu Buhari, who seeks a second term after largely failing to deliver on fighting extremism and corruption, was first in line at his polling station in his northern hometown of Daura. After cheekily peering at his wife’s ballot, he told reporters he was ready to congratulate himself on victory. He refused to say whether he would accept a loss.
Billionaire former vice-president Abubakar, who had told reporters that “I look forward to a successful transition,” was embarrassed by his 186-167 loss to the president at his polling station under a tree in Yola. A crowd of Buhari supporters exploded in cheers at the news.
Observers had said the election was too close to call.
Election day began with mul- tiple blasts in Maiduguri, the capital of northeastern Borno state. Security forces at first denied an attack but eventually acknowledged that extremists had “attempted to infiltrate” the city by launching artillery fire. One soldier was killed and four were wounded, a security official said.
Buhari called the voting smooth, but a coalition of civic groups said multiple polling units had not opened more than four hours after the official start.
Many of Nigeria’s more than 72 million people eligible to vote pressed on, some walking for hours along roads deserted by traffic restrictions. Raphael Dele, a popular singer in Yola, said he walked over 10 kilometres to his polling station “because there is no room for excuses.”